My nine-yr.old daughter asked me the other night as I was putting her to bed, “Mommy, do you believe in ghosts?” “Yes, I do,” I said, “but I prefer to think of them as spirits, not ghosts.” While that could have been a simple question, it then evolved into the subject of lingering spirits after a person dies, people who have channeled voices and teachings from those who have already died, and homes that feel weird as soon as you walk into them. I then shared with her about the idea of opening herself up to feel/see/intuit some of that energy. I tried to explain to her about auras, and how I’ve seen them around people and how the colors have different meanings. I could tell that she was only half-believing me. For any of you who think this is all mumbo-jumbo, you can stop reading now!
It made me think of the busy-ness of my life and how I rarely do take the time to center myself anymore to open up for receiving that energy, and when I do, it’s short-lived. For a little background, I started my working career in the 1980’s as a business owner and then proceeded to burn out in the restaurant business 4 years later. In response to that stressful work, I did a 180 degree turn and studied and practiced massage therapy – a holistic, mind-calming period of good vibes. Throughout my 20’s and 30’s, I had a fascination with stones and gems and their healing properties. I used them daily and often still do to bring me calm and centered-ness. Back then, it was a natural fit, before the craziness of motherhood. Skipping through the next 20 years which I’ll surely get to at another time, I now sit at a desk all day long and manage a natural stone counter top business. Funny how it came around to the earth again…
Today, on my disco-enhanced, mad-walking morning exercise, (sometimes even checking my email or surfing the web or often typing in notes on my phone), you might think it’s a miracle that I notice anything around me, but I did see a sign.
Today’s sign said “STOP.”
Yup, I should STOP. I should stop getting pissed off at drivers who do stupid things, or waiting on hold for technical help by workers whose jobs are now in India, or yelling at my kids because they yell and fight too much. I should just STOP, sit, meditate and be at peace…
But as I approached that STOP sign, with the rising sun partially obscured by the metal, I saw a beautiful spider web that had been woven connecting it to the pole, reflecting the silken threads so that it shimmered in the new morning light!
I momentarily reverted back to my childhood wonder that I once had, and immediately became one with nature and the universe. OK, so it didn’t magically transform me into an enlightened one, but I did feel calmer and my philosophical mind started churning. The symbolic web of life- the interconnectedness of all of us and our universe is so esoteric that I couldn’t fathom it as a child, nevermind as an adult. I did stop and snap this picture, which, by the way, for my wife and all of you other anti-technology snobs, would not exist without my phone, so there!
I remember when I was a youngster, probably somewhere around 9 or 10, and first became aware of the seeming permanence of dying. Where did I go? Would I be back? If I did come back, would I remember the last time I was here? If not, what was the point? I had so many questions and no answers. I think that was the beginning of my journey to find as many answers as I could- to read as much as I could find on the subjects of reincarnation, psychic healing, channeling, oversouls, out-of-body and near-death experiences, etc.
So back to my daughter and her questions…I believe that we’re all connected on a soul level to each other and to our surroundings. Crazy Michele Bachmann says that God is sending politicians a message with all natural disasters we’ve been experiencing, although I think the message is a little different than the one she’s been hearing. I think that “God,” or “Goddess,” “the Universe,” “Mother Nature” whatever you want to call this force is saying “Look at the mess you’ve all made! I left this beautiful place in your care and look what you’ve done with it!”
I do believe in the interconnectedness of our actions and the subsequent repercussions. All of those folks who deny climate consequences due to the greed and carelessness of our country and many other countries, can deny it to their grave, but it doesn’t change the fact that our children’s lives and their children’s lives are forever changed. When I lamented to my 19 yr.old daughter who has been working in the Climate Change field all summer, about the hopelessness of our world and the constant bombardment of bad news, she promised me that she would send me links to hopeful stories when she went back to college. I’m ready to soak them up like the rays of sunshine on my spiderweb!
It may be past the time to reverse all of the damage, but it’s not time to give up. It’s not too late to have hope. That’s what I have to remind myself of EVERY DAY. It’s not too late to change the things that aren’t working right. There is still time to make a difference in the world one person at a time. If each of us weaves our web of kindness, caring for ourselves, each other, and the environment, then connects with others to form a larger web of energy and kindness, it will spread. And when it’s my time to go, I’ll be lingering around, whispering messages in peoples ears to get up and move.
Stop to get centered, but don’t ever stop hoping and working for a better tomorrow!
Rants and musings of a 50-something lesbian mom... 